Table Of ContentBAKHTINIAN THOUGHT
Mikhail Bakhtin, and the writers associated with him, have come to be
recognised as writers of trail-blazing importance. Working in the
extraordinarily difficult conditions of Stalinist Russia, they nevertheless
produced a body of writing in literary theory, linguistics, the history of the
novel, philosophy, and what Bakhtin called ‘philosophical anthropology’,
which continues to inspire and challenge people working in a number of
different areas. Above all, Bakhtin insists on locating all utterances, whether
spoken or literary, between the participants in a dialogue and thus involves
them in considerations of power and authority.
This introduction and reader serves a double function. In the first place,
Simon Dentith provides a lucid and approachable introduction of the
work of Bakhtin and his circle, taking the reader helpfully through the
many areas of their thought, and indicating the points of controversy,
difficulty and excitement. This introductory section culminates in a
discussion of the particular emphases lent by Bakhtin to current debates in
literary theory. The other feature of the book is the anthology of writing
by Bakhtin, Voloshinov and Medvedev, drawn from all the major areas of
their work. This provides an especially helpful reader for a body of work
otherwise published in disparate and relatively inaccessible forms. Special
emphasis has been given to the still unsurpassed linguistic thought of
Voloshinov, and the practical analyses of the novel found in Bakhtin’s
writing on Dostoevsky and Dickens.
This book will be especially interesting to readers new to the work of
Bakhtin and his circle. The combination of an introduction and an
anthology will allow such readers a context for their reading of Bakhtin, an
indication of his importance for contemporary debates in literature,
language and social history, and the opportunity to engage directly with
the writings of this important and indeed, for the student of literary theory,
essential writer.
Simon Dentith is Reader in English at Cheltenham and Gloucester
College of Higher Education. He has previously published books on
ii
George Eliot and rhetoric, and has written extensively on nineteenth- and
twentieth-century literature.
Critical Readers in Theory and Practice
GENERAL EDITOR: Rick Rylance, Anglia Polytechnic University
The gap between theory and practice can often seem far too wide for the
student of literary theory. Critical Readers in Theory and Practices is a new
series which bridges that gap: it not only offers an introduction to a range
of literary and theoretical topics, but also applies the theories to relevant
texts.
Each volume is split into two parts: the first consists of an in-depth and
clear introduction, setting out the theoretical bases, historical
developments and contemporary critical situation of the topic. The theory
is then applied to practice in the second part in an anthology of classic
texts and essays.
Designed specifically with the student in mind, Critical Readers in Theory
and Practice provides an essential introduction to contemporary theories
and how they relate to textual material.
Bakhtinian Thought: An introductory reader Simon Dentith
War Poetry: An introductory reader Simon Featherstone
BAKHTINIAN
THOUGHT
An introductory reader
SIMON DENTITH
LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 1995
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Reprinted in 1996
© 1995 Simon Dentith
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from
the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Dentith, Simon
Bakhtinian Thought: An introductory reader/Simon Dentith.
p. cm.—(Critical readers in theory and practice)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Bakhtin, M.M. (Mikhal Mikhaĭlovich), 1895–1975.
2. Philology. 3. Criticism—Soviet Union. 4. Philosophy,
Russian—20th century. I. Title. II. Series.
P85.B22D46 1995
801′.95′ 092–dc20 94–16524
ISBN 0-203-43044-1 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-39623-5 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0-415-07751-6 (hbk)
ISBN 0-415-11899-9 (pbk)
For my parents, Edward Dentith and Ann Dentith
Contents
General editor’s preface ix
Preface x
Acknowledgements xiii
List of abbreviations xiv
Part I An overview of the writings of Bakhtin and his circle
Introduction 3
1 Voloshinov and Bakhtin on language 21
2 Bakhtin on the novel 39
3 Bakhtin’s carnival 63
4 Bakhtin and contemporary criticism 85
Notes to Part I 99
Part II Extracts from the writings of Bakhtin and his circle
5 V.N.Voloshinov: ‘Language, speech, and utterance’ 105
and ‘Verbal interaction’
6 M.M.Bakhtin and P.N.Medvedev: from ‘Material and 143
device as components of the poetic construction’
7 M.M.Bakhtin: ‘The hero’s monologic discourse and 155
narrational discourse in Dostoevsky’s short novels’
8 M.M.Bakhtin: ‘Heteroglossia in the novel’ 195
9 M.M.Bakhtin: from ‘The grotesque image of the body 225
and its sources’
Notes to Part II 253
viii
Suggestions for further reading 261
Index 263
General editor’s preface
The interpretation of culture never stands still. Modern approaches to
familiar problems adjust our sense of their importance, and new ideas
focus on fresh details or remake accepted concepts. This has been
especially true over recent years when developments across the humanities
have altered so many ideas.
For many this revolution in understanding has been exciting but
difficult, involving the need to integrate advanced theoretical work with
attention to specific texts and issues. This series attempts to approach this
difficulty in a new way by putting together a new balance of basic texts and
detailed, introductory exposition.
Each volume in the series will be organized in two parts. Part One
provides a thorough account of the topic under discussion. It details
important concepts, historical developments and the contemporary
context of interpretation and debate. Part Two provides an anthology of
classic texts or—in the case of very recent work—essays by leading writers
which offer focused discussions of particular issues. Commentary and
editorial material provided by the author connect the explanations in
Part One to the materials in Part Two, and in this way the reader moves
comfortably between original work and enabling introduction.
The series will include volumes on topics which have been of particular
importance recently. Some books will introduce specific theoretical ideas;
others will re-examine bodies of literary or other material in the light of
current thinking. But as a whole the series aims to reflect, in a clear-
minded and approachable way, the changing ways in which we understand
the expanding field of modern literary and cultural studies.
Rick Rylance
